Microbes are beneficial to life on our planet as they facilitate natural processes such as global nutrient cycling in our environment. This article details a 30-minute activity to introduce pre-school children ranging from 3 to 5 years of age to microbes and biofilms in the natural environment.

3.MarlowVL, MacLeanT, BrownH, KileyTB, Stanley-WallNR2013Blast a biofilm: a hands-on activity for school children and members of the publicJ Microbiol Biol Educ14225225410.1128/jmbe.v14i2.563243583923867766http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v14i2.563

Microbes are beneficial to life on our planet as they facilitate natural processes such as global nutrient cycling in our environment. This article details a 30-minute activity to introduce pre-school children ranging from 3 to 5 years of age to microbes and biofilms in the natural environment.

Both panels show the model biofilm constructed by the children as part of the activity. Each petri dish was 10 cm in diameter. (A) The whole model was approximately 70 by 90 cm in size. (B) A close-up section of the picture in the first panel, offering a “zoomed” view of the model biofilm.

jmbe/18/1/jmbe-18-27f3_thmb.gif

jmbe/18/1/jmbe-18-27f3.gif

Click to view

FIGURE 3

Both panels show the model biofilm constructed by the children as part of the activity. Each petri dish was 10 cm in diameter. (A) The whole model was approximately 70 by 90 cm in size. (B) A close-up section of the picture in the first panel, offering a “zoomed” view of the model biofilm.